Tongs.



PATENTBD SEPT. 8, 1903.

A. BRINKMANN.

TONGS.

APPLIGATION FILED my 14, 1903.

NO MODEL.

55g. 5, J'yj.

UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,154, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed May 14, 1903. Serial No. 157,132. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BRINKMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadel phia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tongs designed more particularly forremoving cinders and the like from stoves, but useful also in any situation where fire-tongs are desirable.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and ecetive device which will be economical to manufacture, durable in use, and will not be liable to get out of order.

To this end the invention comprises the particular construction hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

rlhe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on line t of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an edge View of modified form of grip, and Fig. 4a a face View of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a further modification, and Fig. 52L a face view of the same.

According to myinvention I make the body of the tongs out of a single piece of steel or like wire. The wire is coiled upon itself at the center one or more times, as indicated at 1, and thence is carried forward in two parallel portions 2, which form the handle or grasping portions. At the extremity of each handle the wire is bent outwardly, as at 3, to form a shoulder and then is carried across to and around the opposite member, as indicated at 4, this portion a being inclined backwardly, so as to bring it in rear of the shoulder 3 on the opposite member. After passing around the opposite member 2 the wire is bent back upon itself, as indicated 7at 5, the space between the portions 4 and 5 of one arm of the tongs forming a guide for the corresponding portions of the other side or arm. The portions 5 are brought into proximity to each other, from which point the wireA is carried forward in two parallel members 6, the outer ends of which are provided with suitable gripping devices. I prefer that these devices shall be in the shape of concave disks 7, of metal, riveted to the flattened ends ofthe wires, and the edges of these disks are preferably toothed, as indicated at 8, the teeth of one disk being arranged opposite the spaces between the teeth of the opposite disk. Instead of providing disks on the ends of the arms the ends of the arms may be bent into loops, as indicated at 10 in the modified form.

By this construction it will be seen that I provide an extremely simple construction in which the number of parts are reduced to a minimum and which may be produced at an extremely low cost. There is absolutely nothing about the tongs to get out of order and no pivotal joints to wear out. Further, by bringing the wires together in proximity to the handle and then extending them forward parallel to each other the tongs may be inserted into any stove-opening, no matter how narrow, for the removal of cinders and the like.

If desired, the end grips might be secured to the looped ends of the arms, as shown in Fig. 5, the grip being formed of strips l1 of sheet metal bent into cylindrical form and each having one edge 12 bent around the corresponding loop and the other toothed, as shown at 13.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim ism 1. A pair of tongs comprising a single piece of wire having a coiled central portion and substantial parallel handle portionsextend` ing therefrom, the wire at the extremity of each handle portion being carried across to and around the opposite handle portion and then back to the center from Which central point both wires extend forward substantially parallel to each other, and a gripping device at the outer ends of said wires, substantially' as described.

2. A pair of tongs comprising a single piece of wire having a coiled central portion and parallel handle portions extending therefrom, the wire at the extremity of each handle p0rtion being bent outwardly to form a shoulder, thence across to and in rear of' the shoulder of the opposite handle portion and then back to the center, from which center point both 5 wires extend forward parallel to each other, and gripping devices carried at the outer ends thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT BRINKMANN.

` Witnesses:

ARNOLDn NACRE, FRANK D, NACKE. 

